Heat exchange unit



Feb. 6, 1945. J. F. FAGAN HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Fild May 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 6, 1945. I J. F. FAGAN I 2,368,814

HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Filed May 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Joseph F. Fagan, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Bush Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut 1 Application May 14, 1942, Serial No. 442,888

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the. class of devices which are employed'for changing the temperature of one fluid by the action of another fluid which fluids are passed through passages adjacent to each other, a division wall between two sets of passages commonly comprising one wall of each passage, and an object of the invention, among others, is to provide a structure of this type which shall embody'simplicity in its construction and effectiveness in the results produced by it operation.

One form of a unit embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved heat exchange unit embodying my invention and showing conduits for conducting fluid to and away from the unit for passage therethrough, parts being broken away to show construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of several fragments of the unit arranged relatively in their correct positions but cut and broken away to show forms of several of the parts.

Figure 3 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of a pair of plates separated but in position for being placed together.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the ties.

Figure 5 is a similar view of another of the ties together with a filling piece therefor.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views or fra ments of the structure showing their arrangement.

The structure herein illustrated and described and embodying the invention comprises a frame made up of wide, thin, flat plates. The plates have four edges, and may be rectangular and all each plate of a pair containing the same elements as the other plate of said pair except that some elements of one of said plates are reversed from elements of the same form on the other member of said pair, as by rotating the plate one hundred and eighty degrees about an axis lying parallel to either pair of edges.

As an example, the plates 5 have lips I at opposite edges overturned to one side of th plate and lips 8 overturned to the opposite side of the plate at the opposite transverse edges. The other plates 6 have lips 9 at opposite edges overturned to one side of each plate and also lips In overturned to the opposite side 'of each plate at its opposite transverse edges.

In assembling the plates, two plates 5-5 are placed adjacent each other with the lips I and 9 resting against one another and the lips 8l0 identical as shown. In the following the four edges will be referred to in pairs as the opposite edges and the opposite transverse edges. -The plates are arranged in two sets, the plates of one set being interposed between the plates of the op posite set and said plates being spaced apart a slight distance to provide thin passages, every other one of said passages being closed at its opposite edges to form a tube and the intermediate passages being closed at opposite transverse edges to provide thin passages extending in transverse directions to the passages first mentioned. As illustrated and described herein this structure comprises two sets of plates 5-6 arranged in pairs each pair comprising one of each of said plates.

They are of identical construction except that they are arranged as rights and lefts, that is,

resting against one another. These plates may be used in such numbers as may be required to obtain a structure of desired size, all of the plates being assembled as just described. The plates 5-6 have projections i l-l2 respectively extending from opposite edges at opposite ends.

The plates of each pair of plates are secured together by means of ties I3 at Opposite edges, said ties having grooves H to receive the lips I and 9 at said opposite edges of the plates. They are also joined by ties I5 having grooves 16 to receive the lips 8|0 at the opposite transverse edges, the ties l3 having extensions l1 corresponding in form to the projections I l--l2 and located between and secured to the plates of each pair of plates.

By this arrangement when the plates are secured together as described a series of thin passages l8 of a width equal to the thickness of the ties 13 are formed extending in one direction across the structure and another series of passages IQ of a width equal to the thickness of the ties 15 are formed extending in transverse directions across the structure, each of the plates 5-6 dividing a passage Hi from a passage is located at opposite sides'of each plate. It will be noted that the extensions l1 on the ties l3 are in the form of flaps which extend to the ends of theprojections Hl2 and the ties. 15 are of lengths to also extend to the ends of said projections. Formation of the grooves I 4 in the ties l3 creates spaces 2| between the flaps in the extensions I! of the ties I3 and in order to secure rigidity fillers 2 l are secured in the spaces as by means of bolts 22 which may be extended across the unit through the several ties and extensions, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This construction adds rigidity to the I i'rame throughout each 01' the corners, thereof thereby creating an extremely strong and sturdy structure. 1

It will be noted that as to general features the plates are all alike and to assemble the unit the plates are arranged in pairs each pair comprising a plate 5 and a plate 6 and that these plates may be variously arranged simply by turning over one of the plates either edgewise or endwise so that two of the lips I will rest in contact and two of the lips 8 will rest in contact, and depending upon the arrangement the ends of the unit may consist of plates 5 or of plates 6.- The lips 1-8 or 9-H), as the case may be, may be omitted if desired on the outside surfaces of the plates comprising the end plates of the unit, and it will be understood that conduits 23 maybe attached to the unit in any suitable manner to conduct air;

flow to and from the unit in a manner that will be readily understood. In order to avoid confusion by proximity of the lines some of the lines have been omitted from'Fig. 1, this figure being more for the purpose 01' showing general arrangement rather than the detailed construction.

In accordance with the provisions of .the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the device which I now consider to represent the best emcent plates having lips overturned toward each other at opposite end edges of the plates, extenplates comprising a pair of plates one of which plates has lips overturned from opposite side edges toward each other to rest against similarly formed lips on an adjacent plate other than either of those lips on either of said pair of plates, each or said plates of said pair. of plates having lips overturned toward each other at opposite transverse ends to rest against similarly formed lips on the other of said pair of plates and pro-' jecting beyond the overturned edges of said side edges forming grooved extensions from opposite ends of the overturned edges of each of said transverse ends, grooved tles each having one of its side edges engaged and secured in one of the grooves formed by said overturned lips first mentioned on the side edges and having angularly disposed pairs of spaced apart'flaps extending from opposite ends thereof aflording support for said grooved extensions, grooved ties-at each'end between said pair of 'plates with the adjacent.

overturned lips on the transverse ends of adjacent plates at each of said transverse ends located and secured in the groov of one of said ties, and fillers secured between the members of each of said pairs of flaps to impart rigidity to the corners of the structure comprising the plates.

JOSEPH F. FAGAN. 

